Radial Velocity along the Voyager 1 Trajectory: The Effect of Solar Cycle

As Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 are approaching the heliopause (HP)—the boundary between the solar wind (SW) and the local interstellar medium (LISM)—we expect new, unknown features of the heliospheric interface to be revealed. A seeming puzzle reported recently by Krimigis et al. concerns the unusually low, even negative, radial velocity components derived from the energetic ion distribution. Steady-state plasma models of the inner heliosheath (IHS) show that the radial velocity should not be equal to zero even at the surface of the HP. Here we demonstrate that the velocity distributions observed by Voyager 1 are consistent with time-dependent simulations of the SW-LISM interaction. In this Letter, we analyze the results from a numerical model of the large-scale heliosphere that includes solar cycle effects. Our simulations show that prolonged periods of low to negative radial velocity can exist in the IHS at substantial distances from the HP. It is also shown that Voyager 1 was more likely to observe such regions than Voyager 2

Transport Processes in Metal-Insulator Granular Layers

Tunnel transport processes are considered in a square lattice of metallic nanogranules embedded into insulating host to model tunnel conduction in real metal/insulator granular layers. Based on a simple model with three possible charging states ($\pm$, or 0) of a granule and three kinetic processes (creation or recombination of a $\pm$ pair, and charge transfer) between neighbor granules, the mean-field kinetic theory is developed. It describes the interplay between charging energy and temperature and between the applied electric field and the Coulomb fields by the non-compensated charge density. The resulting charge and current distributions are found to be essentially different in the free area (FA), between the metallic contacts, or in the contact areas (CA), beneath those contacts. Thus, the steady state dc transport is only compatible with zero charge density and ohmic resistivity in FA, but charge accumulation and non-ohmic behavior are \emph{necessary} for conduction over CA. The approximate analytic solutions are obtained for characteristic regimes (low or high charge density) of such conduction. The comparison is done with the measurement data on tunnel transport in related experimental systems.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figures, 1 reference corrected, acknowlegments adde

Magnetoresistance of Highly Correlated Electron Liquid

The behavior in magnetic fields of a highly correlated electron liquid approaching the fermion condensation quantum phase transition from the disordered phase is considered. We show that at sufficiently high temperatures $T\geq T^*(x)$ the effective mass starts to depend on $T$, $M^*\propto T^{-1/2}$. This $T^{-1/2}$ dependence of the effective mass at elevated temperatures leads to the non-Fermi liquid behavior of the resistivity, $\rho(T)\propto T$ and at higher temperatures $\rho(T)\propto T^{3/2}$. The application of a magnetic field $B$ restores the common $T^2$ behavior of the resistivity. The effective mass depends on the magnetic field, $M^*(B)\propto B^{-2/3}$, being approximately independent of the temperature at $T\leq T^*(B)\propto B^{4/3}$. At $T\geq T^*(B)$, the $T^{-1/2}$ dependence of the effective mass is re-established. We demonstrate that this $B-T$ phase diagram has a strong impact on the magnetoresistance (MR) of the highly correlated electron liquid. The MR as a function of the temperature exhibits a transition from the negative values of MR at $T\to 0$ to the positive values at $T\propto B^{4/3}$. Thus, at $T\geq T^*(B)$, MR as a function of the temperature possesses a node at $T\propto B^{4/3}$.Comment: 7 pages, revtex, no figure

Mass Transfer Mechanism in Real Crystals by Pulsed Laser Irradiation

The dynamic processes in the surface layers of metals subjected activity of a pulsing laser irradiation, which destroyed not the crystalline structure in details surveyed. The procedure of calculation of a dislocation density generated in bulk of metal during the relaxation processes and at repeated pulse laser action is presented. The results of evaluations coincide with high accuracy with transmission electron microscopy dates. The dislocation-interstitial mechanism of laser-stimulated mass-transfer in real crystals is presented on the basis of the ideas of the interaction of structure defects in dynamically deforming medium. The good compliance of theoretical and experimental results approves a defining role of the presented mechanism of mass transfer at pulse laser action on metals. The possible implementation this dislocation-interstitial mechanism of mass transfer in metals to other cases of pulsing influences is justifiedComment: 10 pages, 2 figures, Late

Formation of d-wave superconducting order in a randomly doped lattice

We consider the interplay between superconducting coupling and dopant impurity scattering of charge carriers in planar square lattice systems and examine physical conditions (doping level, temperature, local symmetry of coupling and scattering potentials) necessary in this model system to obtain a d-wave superconducting order, like that observed in real doped cuprate HTSC materials. Using the Lifshitz model for the disorder introduced into system by dopants, we analyze also the non-uniform structure of such d-wave parameter, including both its magnitude and phase variation. The results indicate that d-wave superconductivity turns possible in a doped metal until it can be destroyed at too high doping levels.Comment: 22 pages, 2 figure

Dissymmetrical tunnelling in heavy fermion metals

A tunnelling conductivity between a heavy fermion metal and a simple metallic point is considered. We show that at low temperatures this conductivity can be noticeably dissymmetrical with respect to the change of voltage bias. The dissymmetry can be observed in experiments on the heavy fermion metals whose electronic system has undergone the fermion condensation quantum phase transition.Comment: 7 pages, Revte

Specifics of impurity effects in ferropnictide superconductors

Effects of impurities and disorder on quasiparticle spectrum in superconducting iron pnictides are considered. Possibility for occurrence of localized energy levels due to impurities within the superconducting gap and the related modification of band structure and of superconducting order parameter are discussed. The evolution of superconducting state with impurity doping is traced.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure

Quantum Electrodynamics at Extremely Small Distances

The asymptotics of the Gell-Mann - Low function in QED can be determined exactly, \beta(g)= g at g\to\infty, where g=e^2 is the running fine structure constant. It solves the problem of pure QED at small distances L and gives the behavior g\sim L^{-2}.Comment: Latex, 6 pages, 1 figure include